Northwestern
14-5,5-3Big Ten
#10 Illinois
14-5,5-3Big Ten
Northwestern Takes Down No. 10 Illinois in Overtime, 96-91
1/24/2024 11:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Four Wildcats scored in double figures as Northwestern secured its second Top-10 win of the season, defeating No. 10 Illinois 96-91 in overtime on Wednesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Boo Buie led all Wildcats with 29 points, seven assists and three steals. Brooks Barnhizer tacked on 23 points, Ty Berry helped out with 14 points, and Matthew Nicholson added 12 points.
Northwestern's 61.1% (11-for-18) from 3-point range is its best in a single-game since shooting 63.2% from behind the arc in a 91-71 win over Georgia Tech on November 30, 2010. The Wildcats shot a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc in overtime.Drive home safely, Chicago. Beep! Beep! pic.twitter.com/xylmluJKZr
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) January 25, 2024
How It Happened
After falling behind 32-27, Northwestern closed the first half on a 7-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Buie, to take a 34-32 lead into halftime. Northwestern shot 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from the field in the first half, while holding Illinois to 12-of-34 (35.3 percent) from the field.
Both teams traded blows in the second half, with neither team leading by more than four throughout the second half. Trailing 76-74, Boo Buie evened the game at 76 with 23 seconds left and the Wildcat defense got the stop to force overtime at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern shot 63.6% (7-for-11) from three-point range in the second half.
Northwestern exploded for a 9-0 run to open overtime, finished off by Nicholson's layup, to grab an 85-76 lead with 2:35 to go. The Wildcats closed out the game at the free throw line, shooting 87.5% (7-for-8) from the charity stripe to claim the 96-91 win.
Game Notes
» Northwestern picked up its second win over a Top-10 opponent this season. It marks the first time ever the Wildcats have beaten two Top 10 teams in the same season.
» The win marks Northwestern's first over a Top-10 Illinois since March 5, 1956.
» Since the start of 2002, only 13 power conference DI men's basketball teams have a winning record against ranked opponents. Of those 13, two are in the Big Ten (Purdue; 8-1, Northwestern; 6-4)
» The Wildcats finished the night shooting 61.1 percent from three-point range (11-of-18), their best mark of the season.
» Northwestern's 61.1% from three-point range is its best in a single-game since shooting 63.2% from behind the arc in a 91-71 win over Georgia Tech on November 30, 2010.
» Northwestern shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from the field in the second half and 7-of-11 (63.5 percent) from deep in the second half.
» Northwestern closed the first half on a 7-0 run over the last 1:36, closing the half 3-of-3 from the field.
» Buie led all scorers with 29 points, his second highest output of the season (31 vs. Purdue; 12/1/23) and the fourth-highest output of his career.
» Buie matched his career high with 12 field goals made (also done at Illinois last season on Feb, 23, 2023).
» Barnhizer finished with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, one point off his career high mark of 24 points set in the last game at Nebraska.
» After missing his first four field goals of the game, Barnhizer knocked down seven consecutive field goals from 6:03 in the first half to 12:02 in the second half.
» Berry did not attempt a field goal in the first half and finished with 14 points. It marked his seventh time in the last nine games finishing in double figures.
Northwestern continues its Big Ten homestand with a matchup with Ohio State at home on Saturday, January 27 at 7:30 p.m. CT on BTN and ESPN 1000 WMVP. Tickets are available here.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
